Dolphins' Mike Pouncey avoids PUP, makes 53-man roster

DAVIE – Dolphins Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey will open the season on the 53-man roster, not the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

This is good news for the Dolphins because it presumably means the team’s medical staff thinks Pouncey will be back sooner than six weeks, which is how long he would have been required to miss had he opened the season on the PUP list.

The Dolphins could use the boost from Pouncey’s return. Currently, veteran Samson Satele, signed as a free agent during training camp, handles the center positon. And by all accounts he’s done fairly well.

Pouncey, however, is one of the best centers in the NFL and his return, coupled with the presence of Pro Bowl left tackle Branden Albert, figures to upgrade the offensive line significantly in both run blocking and pass blocking.

The Dolphins, who allowed a NFL-worst 58 sacks last season, are likely to open the season with an offensive line of Satele at center, Shelley Smith at right guard, Ja’Wuan James at right tackle, Daryn Colledge at left guard and Albert at left tackle. None of the five starters were on the Dolphins roster last season.